Higher ed, Allina team up to solve critical medical lab tech shortage
ST. PAUL, Minn. 04/24/2008--During National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 20 to 26, we honor the more than nearly 2,000 medical laboratory professionals across in Minnesota who perform and interpret lab tests that save lives and keep people healthy.
But clinical laboratory technicians (CLTs) and clinical laboratory scientists (CLSs) are becoming scarce commodities for health care employers. Forty-three percent of the schools in the U.S. that have trained them have closed due to the high expense of running the programs and lack of sites willing and able to provide the 720 hours of required clinical training.
"It is truly a workforce crisis," says Jane Renken, manager of Workforce Planning/Sourcing for Allina Hospitals & Clinics.
Partnership and grant to address need for lab technicians and scientists
Minnesota's critical need for lab techs and scientists will be addressed by an industry-education partnership and a $3.2 million U.S. Department of Labor grant program announced this week.
Saint Paul College is at the hub of a multi-institution partnership that has received the grant. The grant program includes $2 million from the federal Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative and local matching grants from the industry partnerships totaling $1.2 million for a project total of $3.2 million. The primary purpose of the grant is to expand enrollment and graduation completion of skilled professionals in the medical/clinical laboratory profession.
"We will work with other Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) partners to facilitate career advancement through program articulation, fast track, e-learning and expansion strategies in two-year clinical lab technician and four-year clinical lab science programs," according to Dr. Marilyn Krasowski, dean of Health and Services Programs at Saint Paul College. "The grant allows us to work with Allina Hospitals & Clinics and other health care providers to increase clinical experiences. Right now, the lack of industry capacity to provide students with the required 720 hours of clinical experience per student is a major impediment to meeting industry needs for lab techs."
"Allina is committed to playing a major role in providing clinical experience opportunities for new lab oratory technologists," said Allina President and CEO Dick Pettingill. "As Minnesota's largest non-profit health care provider, many of these new technicians and scientists will work in our hospitals and clinics. However, no matter where these new medical lab professionals work, we all depend on their expertise to provide timely and accurate diagnostic information. This program will help make sure patients receive the best possible laboratory services available."
Clinical laboratory technicians and clinical laboratory scientists in Minnesota
Clinical laboratory technicians (CLTs) and clinical laboratory scientists (CLSs) represent only about 1.2 percent of the health care workforce in Minnesota. Yet, despite the overall small number, technicians and are in high demand with a projected 2000 new CLT and CLS hires needed between 2005 and 2015 to accommodate growth and attrition (retirement).
While CLTs and CLSs are small in number, their work provides between 70 and 80 percent of all objective data used to determine a patient's diagnosis and treatment.
"We are excited about the opportunity to play a significant role in the development of solutions for the workforce shortages experienced by the Clinical Laboratory Science Profession," said Michelle Briski, department chair, Medical Laboratory Program at Saint Paul College. "The job opportunities, now and into the future, are abound in this field due in part to the large numbers of incumbent workers expected to retire in the near future."
About Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, 65 clinics and health care services, including home care, hospice and palliative care, oxygen and medical equipment, pharmacies and emergency medical transportation. More about Allina and the latest health information can be found online at www.allina.com.
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